Family Weekend Extravaganza

Also known as:  what the kids and I do during Craig's "guys' trip to Vegas".  :)

Last year was much the same, only with more of my siblings around.  This year, the kids and I had a sleepover at my parent's house on Friday and Saturday and pretty much spent Thursday evening through Sunday evening with them.  We look very forward to some quality time together that doesn't involve my mom doing a babysitting favor for us. 

 

On Thursday, the kids had swim lessons as usual and then we ate dinner and swam some more that evening.  It was still a work night for me, so we went home to sleep at our house and had our normal day on Friday too.

Will is doing so much better with swimming this summer.  He LOVES this new independence!

This is Sophie's idea of a leisurely dip in the pool.  Haha!

Nana really works with Will too whenever she can.  She was encouraging him to swim through the deep end here.

Baby girl mostly loves to play in the water rather than swim in it.

But Nana works with her too.  :)

This is the other new thing:  jumping off the side in various poses.

Papa with Brutus, who was with us this weekend as well.

This is during the swim lesson with Jenna.

It was a really big deal for Sophie to jump off the side on her own.  She can be encouraged to go under the water in someone's arms, but only briefly.  And jumping in takes a LOT of encouragement for her.

Will looks so old lately!

Floating on her back.  Peek-a-boo, Jenna!

Yummy dinner.  Mom and I pulled our resources and ideas together each day/night to collaborate on delicious meals.  I love eating with my parents - they're far more adventurous than my regular crew.  ;) 

Great grandma and grandpa came over to swim on Thursday night too!  What a treat!

On Friday after work and dinner, we scrambled to make it out to Perry Falls Miniature Golf course before it got too dark.  It was a late evening, but totally fun.  Putt putt with Nana & Papa!  I had a Groupon to use and we wised up this year and had just Papa play with the kids while my mom and I each helped one child.  Much better than trying to make them wait for mom and I to play too.  The game is fun as long as they can keep moving.

Our scorekeeper?

Watching Papa make a putt.

Saturday morning, I made breakfast for all of us and Nana got to try our favorite almond oatmeal pancakes.

After breakfast, mom and I took the kids to a late morning movie, which was fun.  And then, when we got home, Will went with Papa and Uncle Zach to go fishing with his new fishing pole (a birthday present from Nana & Papa).

The lone fish that was caught this day.

Gatorade with Uncle Zach - such a treat.

Meanwhile, Soph and I were home.  She napped while I got some things done.  And then in the afternoon, we came back to swim again, this time with the Pearson family.

For dinner, I made these awesome shrimp, pesto, sundried tomato and feta paninis that were AMAZING!  I also roasted some vegetables and had a bunch more raw veggies on the side.  So good.

On Sunday morning, we went to church with Nana & Papa.

Then, Soph and I went to pick blueberries while Will stayed back with Nana to swim some more.  We pick at Erie Orchard every year and were grateful that it wasn't too hot of a day for picking.

Four quarts and about an hour and 15 minutes later, we wrapped up.

We grabbed just a few peaches and plums and headed home.

More swimming after nap time.

And then dinner again outside.  Mom made this amazing fish with a salad and herbed rice and I made blueberry shortcake for dessert.

After dinner on Sunday, we played a game of Qwirkle before heading home for bath and bedtime.  And Craig came home shortly after that.  It was a great weekend.